A Full-time Life

WOOD STORKS: still endangered?

 

FOR WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY and NATURE NOTES.  Can't let a season in Florida go by without posting something about our native wood storks.  We could hardly believe what we were seeing when we first saw these odd-looking ungainly birds four years ago.   

 Because of loss of shallow wetlands in South Florida, due to agriculture and over-building, this species has been on the endangered species list since 1984.  These pictures were taken in April at Big Cypress but during the winter  months, we even see them feeding in ditches and canals.  Because they are so frequently seen, there's a big push on to take them off the endangered list.

However, according to stork researcher Jason Lauritsen, assistant director at Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, the birds searching for food in those city ditches are not nesting birds.  They are merely biding time, waiting for the return of quality wetlands.  The birds depend on shallow wetlands for foraging early in their breeding season (winter, the dry season here). Lack of good foraging causes later breeding and nesting and when nests are started late in the season they usually fail.     

A healthy population of breeding storks would be a sign that ongoing efforts to restore the Everglades is succeeding, but according to Lauritsen, the species is far from meeting the criteria to be considered fully recovered.     

 

 

     An article by Jason Lauritsen in the Fort Myers News Press was the information source.

 

 

 

PLANET WATER

FOR MICHELLE'S NATURE NOTES and NATURE FOOTSTEPS-WATER  (Thank you!)

Visiting the Everglades during the dry and then the beginning of the wet season provided a quick and obvious lesson on the importance of water to the health of our environment.   On our most recent visit, we noted one sign reminding us that our planet is seventy-five percent water -- it suggested that this third rock from the sun might better be named "Water" instead of "Earth."  

The Everglades is all about water, in seasonal cycles of rain and drought.   

 The above picture  and the next one are from an earlier trip we took by boat.  This one is the edge of Lake Okechobee, the major source of water for the Everglades.  The next picture is a lock on Lake O.

The information in italics under each of our pictures is taken from National Park Service explanatory signs in the Everglades.  

 

Historically Lake Okechobee overflowed with rain each spring.  But today, humans have engineered nature, disrupting the flow that nourishes the Everglades and its wildlife.  

 

The entire Everglades food web has evolved in pure low-nutrient water. Changes in water quality due to nutrient contamination (the introduction of phosphates and nitrates) threaten the natural glades.  (Sawgrass, seen above, is a sedge-like plant  that grows naturally in low-nutrient water.  Stands of cattails seen elsewhere in the park are not natural, they are growing as a result of nutrient contamination.)

 

Increased public awareness and support offer the hope of restoring natural conditions.  Park managers, working with other agencies, are restoring portions of the ecosystem that will help protect this "River of Grass"  -- from its headwaters in Lake Okechobee to its exit into the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Bay.  

 

"Here is land, quiet in its tranquil beauty, serving not as the source of water, but the last receiver of it.  To its natural abundance, we owe the spectacular plant and animal life that distinguishes this place from all others in this country." President Harry S Truman, dedicating Everglades National Park, December 6, 1947 .

 

CYPRESS REFLECTIONS

 

THIS POST IS LINKED TO  WEEKEND REFLECTIONS, where you can see reflective photos every week (Thank you James) and the SUNDAY STILLS challenge where, serendipitiously, this week's theme is also REFLECTIONS and to SCENIC SUNDAY, because it fits!    

Lots to reflect on and lots of reflections at Big Cypress National Preserve. Below are some of the cypress trees for which the Preserve is named.  The area was logged extensively before it became a preserve in 1974, so these trees aren't real old.  (It is named Big Cypress because of how large the preserve is, not because of the size of the trees.)

These are swampy waters, so the reflections have a murky look.

Above:  Immature Ibis

Above:  roseate spoonbill (click for earlier post)

An alligator heading for the shore (click for earlier post)

Big Cypress is rich in nature -- and photo ops!  We loved it and plan to go again.

WEATHER OR NOT?

FOR SKYWATCH FRIDAY and for the SUNDAY STILLS  photo challenge from whom I took the title of this post.   The challenge said:   "In this season when winter ends and spring begins but in keeping with the seasons lets find us some weather…..naughty or nice." 

This is the first week of Spring, a season known in most places for its changeable weather. 

Here in the Fort Myers Florida area however, if we're talking about change, the weather is NOT.  It's warm and sunny and skies are blue, with those fair-weather clouds we love... pretty much the same as it's been all Winter.    We are not complaining!

Especially because yesterday, our friend Patrick from Oregon e-mailed us the pictures below. This is how the Lake where we stayed last summer looked on the first day of Spring!  Now, that is change.  That is WEATHER.  (Snow is quite rare in Western Oregon -- even during the Winter.  I don't remember a Spring snow in all the years we lived there.)    

Here's a quote from his e-mail:  

 "Started last night, went to rain turning all into ice and then snowing again. Supposed to get hit again tonight with heavier. Weird, only Salem down to Eugene/Veneta and in the valley. The coast, Portland and the Siskiyous into Cal are just rain!"

    Thank you Patrick.  I am no longer envious of Oregon's early Spring.

A "FOREST" OF FERNS AND ONE SINGLE FROND

THE SUNDAY STILLS CHALLENGE for this week was "take two pictures…..one of 'the big picture' and the second of just a part of the same thing." 

There's a nature trail between our RV resort and one part of the Caloosahatchie Creeks Preserve, where these pictures were taken.   The first year we were here, we were surprised to see so many ferns.  We were used to them in our native Pacific Northwest forests, but didn't know they'd also thrive in Florida's subtropical climate.   But apparently as long as there is moisture they do well.  

 

 I'm happy to see them anywhere or everywhere. 

NATURE'S SHADOWS - FLORIDA STYLE

 For SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY

A few typical Florida shadows captured on camera.

 

Saw Palmetto

Palm Tree

 

Grapefruit Tree

Boardwalk through the swamp

We love living in the land of Winter sunshine and shadows! 

FIRST OF MARCH

FOR SKYWATCH FRIDAY, these are "time-lapse" photographs from the morning of March first (about an hour from the first to the last).

 

With gratitude!

RIVER REFLECTION

FOR WEEKEND REFLECTIONS   

The Caloosahatchie, up-river a little ways from where we live.

Enjoy the weekend!

MORNING REWARD

FOR SKYWATCH FRIDAY  -- go, click the links.  Smiles are guaranteed.  Thank you to the hosts

This was the reward for getting up a little early one day last week:   

 

It was breezy and a little cool by later in the morning, but it didn't matter, because before it even really began, we'd already had a perfect day!

 

SPIRIT OF PUNTA GORDA

THIS POST IS SHARED WITH SIGNS SIGNS.  Thanks as always to Lesley for hosting!  And  SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY II. The new Shadowy hosts are Magical Mystery Teacher, Rose (Chubskulit) and Gemma Wiseman.  Thank you lovely bloggers!    All four of these hosts have great blogs of their own besides hosting these great memes!

Here's what the bronze sign in front of this sculpture says:

 "Dedicated to the spirit of the people of Punta Gorda in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley

August 13, 2004.

The bent tree symbolizes the wind, which stopped our downtown clock at 4:29 pm.

Like the upright tree, the people stood tall."

Below is another picture of the sundial portion of the sculpture.  The artist has used darker colored tile to create a permanent shadow-line at 4:29.  (But we were there earlier in the day and you can see a real shadow too.)

Punta Gorda is 20 miles north-west of where we live in North Fort Myers.  The sculpture is along Harbor Walk in a lovely park/harbor area which has all been rebuilt since the Hurricane.  Charley happened before we started coming to this area and no serious storms have hit the area since then.  

WETLANDS

FOR NATURE NOTES and SIGNS SIGNS.   Mosaic and pictures from our archives, taken at various area wetlands and swamps.  Explanatory signs are at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.

 The history of wetlands in our part of Florida is well documented by explanatory signs along the Boardwalk at Corkscrew Swamp and Audubon Center.

(I think that the first sentence in the sign on the left is probably supposed to say "I take a dim view.....)  

It's the 21st Century now, but some people are still as afraid of swamps as this early explorer was in the 1700s.

 

 

 

 

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Not so very long ago, most of us still thought of wetlands as wasted space. Draining so that they could be used for farmland or development was encouraged nationally.

     

 

 

 

 

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But now, most of us have at least reached the third stage:  Understanding how important the swamps and wetlands are.                     
      

 But we can't take things for granted... in Florida or anywhere else.  The fourth stage would be to take the action necessary to continue to protect and preserve what remains of these vital ... and beautiful ... areas.

              

WINTER AS IT IS IN FLORIDA

FOR OUR WORLD

It was cold last week in Our World.  OK, OK cold for this part of Florida, not for Winter where many of you are.     It really did reach freezing temperatures on a few nights.  But the local farm where we buy strawberries didn't lose any of their crop, so we are still enjoying fresh berries in mid-winter.    And we bought delicious local citrus last week too.    

During our "cold spell", we were happy just to hang around home because (as many of you guessed) we were a little tired after our busy time with company the weekend before last. (We were so happy that the weather was beautiful while they were here... THAT was perfect timing!

We're rested up now and ready for the warm and sunny winter weather that is supposed to be on its way again.  And we're looking forward to getting out there again to enjoy more of our area's beautiful outdoors.  

JUST WATER PLEASE

This collage of local waters is linked to NATURE FOOTSTEPS: WATER and  MOSAIC MONDAY.  Thank you to the hosts of both these memes.

 

  

We love living and traveling near the water, as everybody probably already knows since so many of our posts are about it! 

Most of last week's posts featured the Estero River.  Here are six more of our favorite watery places, also located very short distances away from our "cottage" on the canal.

It's no wonder we are happy to be here!

 

Top row:  Upriver Canal (the one we live on); Charlotte Harbor from Matlachea; Orange River

Bottom row:  San Carlo Bay (walking across Ft. Myers Beach bridge); Caloosahatchie River; Orange River (manatee viewing area).

 

SKYWATCHING FROM THE BACK OF THE BOAT

FOR SKYWATCH FRIDAY.  Thank you to the hosts!

Random sky shots from our first boat trip of the season .... along the Caloosahatchie River.

I did a little picasa-play with the moon (oh what power we mere mortals have these days) but the other three shots are straight-out-of-the-camera.

DECEMBER MORNINGS

Thank you to the hosts of SKYWATCH FRIDAY.  These are morning views from different points here at Upriver RV resort.  

 
 This is looking across the canal from our back deck.

And from the end of the driveway into the resort.

Sunrise from the East side of the canal.

 

Just the beginnings of a few more beautiful days here at Upriver.

 

 

VISITING MATLACHA

 

 FOR OUR WORLD.  Thank you to the hosts for providing this opportunity to share what's happening in every corner of this planet.  

Wishing you a Happy New Year.  May your skies be blue and all of your takeoffs and landings be graceful.  May your year be filled with bright colors and may it be just a little zany sometimes.

 

 

And if you get to enjoy a baked grouper sandwich once in a while, while looking out at the water, then that's even better.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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All pictures from the village of Matlacha -- taken when we visited early last week. 

 Here is a link to a post about Matlacha from the first year we stayed here in Florida.  It even tells how to pronounce it. 

MERRY (NON-TRADITIONAL) CHRISTMAS

 

FOR OUR WORLD.  In our world last week, we celebrated the season non-traditionally ... among friends instead of family, in 75 degree weather instead of (much chillier) and by watching Christmas fireworks and beautifully decorated boats... A Christmas parade in the middle of the canals instead of down the middle of the street.

   

  

 

Whether your Christmas is the same as it's always been or just a little bit different this year, we wish you one that is filled with joy.    

 

FAIRWEATHER CLOUDS

For SKYWATCH FRIDAY.  Thank you to the wonderful hosts. 

 Our Florida skies right now are filled with what the weather forecaster calls "fair weather clouds."    And that's more than fair as far as we're concerned. 

It's good to be back.

WE'RE HOME!

FOR NATURE'S FOOTSTEPS:  WATERS.  And OUR WORLD.

This picture is from across the water, looking at our "canal cottage." It survived the summer just fine.  

So our world this week is mostly unpacking and cleaning and getting organized for the season ... but our water is right here to enjoy in between tasks.

It's great to be home!

(Hope to have a couple more "flashback" posts about the end of our roadtrip later in the week.)

RULES FOR GUESTS

 

Taking part in Signs Signs

 

The picture below is an enlargement of a sign posted on the front porch of Seminole Estate,  the winter home of Thomas Edison and family (now a public museum and visitor center).  It is on the Caloosahatchie River in Fort Myers.   (This picture is one of Edison's  many inventions.) 

Here's a link to an earlier post about our first visit to the Edison Estate in case you missed it.  

  

So that was how people knew how to behave if they were lucky enough to spend some time visiting the Edisons (at least one of whom obviously had a good sense of humor!) 

 

 

REFLECTING ON FLORIDA

August 19.  Apologies:  I posted this flashback earlier this month, but computer problems on Friday of that week prevented me from linking to  WEEKEND REFLECTIONS .  So here it is again -- I love the reflection and wanted to share it on James' lovely meme.  

This is a flashback to January in Florida; I posted the pictures back then, but they kind of got buried in a collage at the bottom of a long post. I  think they deserve a rerun.  The birds were showing off for company along the kayak trail  at Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge.  We were enjoying a visit from Geoff and LIsa.

     

  LINKING to WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY and WATERY WEDNESDAY and (later) WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.  (The original post was not linked to these memes.)

THINK IT'S GONNA' RAIN? (Florida)

FOR SKYWATCH FRIDAY.  We're on our roadtrip -- our pictures just haven't caught up.  This one's from the backyard, just before we left  -- a week ago today.

 

It looks a little bit like a black rabbit to me.  But whatever it looks like, it means it's going to rain.

This was a stormy afternoon sky above the Canal Cottage the week before we left.  There are often afternoon storms, sometimes with thunder and lightning, this time of year.  But unlike many other parts of the country, Southwest Florida needs more rain and storm clouds are welcome.

SLOW CROSSING

FOR CAMERA CRITTERS and  SIGNS SIGNS  Taken near Koreshan State Park, Estero Florida (before we left on our summer road trip).

 

Gopher tortoises are on Florida's threatened species list because of loss of habitat.   So far at least.  Because unfortunately, at this time this State has a governor and legislative majority who are not at all environmentally friendly and quite a few species have recently been removed from the list.   (This would make it easier for builders to get construction permits on land that is now set aside for habitat.) 

 

Here is one link to more information about the tortoises.

KORESHAN STATE PARK

 

This rocker with its view of the Estero River is shared with WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.   It looked inviting on the hot afternoon of our visit to Koreshan State Park.

 Koreshan State Park and Historic Site was a day trip destination last Sunday when we took a break from getting ready for our summer road trip.

      

The park lies on the banks of the Estero River.   This property was formerly the site of the Koreshan Unity Settlement, one of many communal societies which sprung up around the turn of the (19th) century.   The Koreshan founder, Cyrus Teed, envisioned it as a "New Jerusalem", and himself as the new Messiah (Koresh is the Hebrew translation of Cyrus).   He began recruiting members in New York, moved to Chicago and, in 1894, relocated to the Florida frontier. 

 Koresh had some rather odd scientific views, including the belief that the entire universe existed in the center of a giant sphere.   

He was definitely a charismatic leader though, because his followers worked for an entire year in the heat and bug-filled swamp to build a community from the ground up.  The town eventually included homes for members, a dining hall, performance hall, bakery, sawmill, store and school.  Education and cultural opportunities were important to them and for some time time Koreshan was a thriving settlement, with people from the surrounding community, as well as commune residents, taking advantage of the stores and cultural events.   

 

The founder died in 1908 and, when he was not resurrected as his followers had believed he would be, membership began to decline. In 1961, the four remaining members donated the 305-acre property to the State of Florida.     Many of the settlement buildings and some of the landscaping and gardens are preserved as they would have been when Koreshan was at its height.

In addition to the historic site, the park also includes a campground, boat launch, and several nature trails.  It is near the town of Estero, which is just south of Fort Myers, an easy drive for us.             

MOON AND SUN IN THE SAME MINUTE

SHARED WITH THE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO LOVE TO POINT THEIR EYES AND THEIR CAMERAS UP.    Visit them at SKYWATCH FRIDAY

Straight out of the camera, these were taken from our front and backyards one morning last week -- within less than 10 minutes of each other.  

Here's the view across the street to the west. 

 

  ........

And from the back of the cottage looking East across the Canal.

It feels like magic when moonset and sunsight are simultaneous.

 

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Here's the beautiful morning five minutes after the dawn picture:

 

A great beginning to a beautiful day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ALIENS ATTACK?

For THAT'S MY WORLD.    Our outdoor paradise here in SW Florida has some odd drawbacks this time of year!  It seems only fair to let our neighbors who have already left know what they're NOT missing!

You never know what you'll see on your boat dock these days!  This guy looked to me like something that dropped in from outer space.

 

  Lubber grasshoppers are hard on plants and even though we don't have one, we try to help our gardening neighbors by (permanently) getting rid of some of these frequent visitors.   But it is disconcerting because their big dark eyes seem to make them more personable than most insects. 

The adult lubbers are huge for insects -- three to six inches long.  And they have a voracious appetite.  Here's a Link for more information.

Not so harmful but also no fun is the annual spring hatch of Lovebugs. (Yeah, that's two bugs on our car window, doing what they do to create more lovebugs for next season.)  These are miniscule compared to the grasshopper -- only about 1/4 inches long, but they are real pests. To get an idea of the problem, multiply this pair by, oh a million or so, most of which seem to have shortened their already brief life by splatting on the hood and windshield of our van.  They don't bite but they sure can mess up a car. 

The lovebug hatch lasts less than a month, so it's not a long-term problem, but definitely an annoyance during the season.   Wikipedia has an article, but this one is funnier -- and, as far as we know, biologically correct. 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHELL FACTORY

  A silly day at the Shell Factory for THAT'S MY WORLD  and SIGNS SIGNS. 

The old picture postcard below is courtesy of PostCardy (see links below); the rest are mine. 

 

 

 

 

 

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  PostCardy is an avid postcard collector and  blogger who showcases a remarkable vintage collection of postcards, with fascinating history and factoids that go along with the cards.   I discovered this Blog by linking through Signs Signs .... and I was quite surprised to see this post:  Shell Factory .  Surprised because the Shell Factory is located less than five miles from where we stay here in Fort Myers.  It's still going strong.    Admission to this kitschy attraction is still free, although out back there is a petting zoo and "wildlife adventure" for the kids and there is a charge for that. 

This kind of 'touristy' attraction isn't really our thing -- we didn't take pictures when we visited the first year we were here  --  and hadn't been since.  (I couldn't even talk Bill into going again this time.) 

But lots of people like to visit and especially like to take visitors -- and, based on the way the friendly staff seems to recognize a lot of customers,  it seems as if there are many regular local and snowbird visitors.  The restaurant is also quite popular -- it hosts music and dancing several times a week during the season and some people who live here at Upriver are in a band that plays there regularly.   Here is a reminder of the iconic sign in the postcard.  Not quite as impressive as the original.   

Inside, there are all kinds of souvenirs to purchase,  but the Shell Factory is redeemed from being exactly the same as all tourist traps everywhere by the fact that it has a lot of ....well...oddities just to gaze at... and there is no pressure to buy the stuff that IS for sale. 

 

But of course if you really need a shell-framed mirror or a pink flamingo, or a slightly tasteless postcard they'd be happy to sell you one.  You can also buy ice cream, sandwiches, toys, Florida souvenirs made in China, or, of course, any number of any kind of shell. 

 

I'd rather go to the beach to look at shells, but as far as souvenir shops go  (or just because we all need a silly day sometimes) the Shell Factor isn't a bad place to visit. 

 

 

  

 

ROYAL POINCIANA

  FOR THAT'S MY WORLD  Go visit it!  and RUBY TUESDAY at Mary's. 

 

The Royal Poinciana trees are just starting to flower.   They aren't in full beautiful bloom yet but I'm so in love with this tree I couldn't wait to share.  And the seed pods are interesting at this stage.

Here's one that's a little further along, probably because it's warmer beside the building. 

We posted a picture of this tree in late May last year -- click here . 

We didn't know its name then, but have since learned.     It's also called the Flame Tree or Flamboyant Tree and it is easy to see why. 

By the end of this month the trees should all be in full bloom -- the ones planted in more open spaces will make a better picture because of the beautiful contrast with Florida's blue sky. 

SUNSIGHT - SUNCLIPSE

 

THIS POST IS LINKED TO SIGNS SIGNS and SKYWATCH FRIDAY (scroll down)

Added note:  I learned after posting this originally that the terms sunsight and sunclipse were coined by Buckminster Fuller, who felt they were less geocentric than the more familiar terms for the beginning and end of the day.

 
Whiteboards like this one are posted at every Marina.  That data is important for mariners (and for just plain boaters like us).  This one is at Fort Myers City Marina. 

Along with all the other important facts, notice the creative description of the beginning and end of the day. 

Here is last Saturday's Sunclipse from our berth at the Marina:

 

I don't have a Sunsight picture.  We woke up early Sunday morning and the next picture is how the dock looked from the boat.  We went below and back to sleep!  When we got up again, the sun had been sighted for a couple of hours (but not by us).

 

SOLOMON'S CASTLE

 THIS POST IS LINKED TO MELLOW YELLOW MONDAY and RUBY TUESDAY.  We drove to Ona FL last week, to visit Solomon's Castle. 

 

 Above are a few of the more than 60 original stained glass windows that adorn Solomon's Castle.  It is the eccentric creation of  Howard Solomon, self-taught glass artist, woodworker and painter. 

 Solomon and his wife live in the Castle, which has been featured on HGTV's Extreme Homes and numerous other TV and newspaper travel stories.  

The shiny silver coating of the castle is recycled printing plates from the local weekly newspaper.  

 The random art pieces that Solomon displays in his home and adjoining museum are all made of recycled material.    He uses old metal, car parts, coat hangers... you name it.     We were guided through the museum and through part of the living quarters. 

Led by Peggy Solomon, the artist's wife, the tour was a fun experience.  You need to have a high tolerance for puns...both verbal and visual.  These people have fun with their self-admitted eccentricity. 

For example,  here is one wall that Solomon did not decorate.  It is a plain (Plane) wall.  This wall was in the family kitchen/dining area.  It would take a lot of patience and a good sense of humor to live like this!

Behind the castle, over a waterway Solomon dug himself is the "Boat in the Moat."  It's also built from recycled materials and it houses a restaurant.

 

We ate lunch there -- on the outside patio . 

We didn't necessarily expect too much because Ona is really out in the middle of nowhere but we were pleasantly surprised.  Our lunches were beautifully prepared and delicious.  (We'd give it a high rating no matter where it was.)

There are walking paths around the grounds, which made a nice way to stretch after lunch (the grounds are open and not a part of the guided tour).   It was an interesting day trip for us, through pretty scenery on some new country roads.  And with a castle as our destination!

Howard himself was spending some time on the patio when we were there.  His T-shirt says "I Make Stuff."   He certainly does.  

 

WATCHING THE WAKE

WATERY WEDNESDAY, the best place in blogland to share your love of the water.

 

                                                                                   Taken from the back of the boat. 

Just outside our Canal. 

We were really enjoying the look of the River on this particular day, because the Caloosahatchie looked so much bluer than usual.  

Sometimes it is more of a coffee-color.  We haven't figured out exactly why. 

 

 

UPHEAVAL

 Posted to That's My World   (Upheaval was in mid-March, the week before we went on our boat trip.  But  it's worth a flashback because  I haven't really posted much this year about our RV Park activities and, of course, they are a big part of our Winter World.)

 Things are winding down here at "Camp Sunset."  Snowbird season everywhere in sun country ends between mid-March and mid-April and there is an exodus of winter residents leaving to return to their summer homes.   

In mid-March every year, Upriver RV Park residents throw themselves an all-day goodbye party called "Upheaval".  Residents display their winter's best art and craft creations in the rec hall, there's an all-day picnic on the golf course with games and music, a talent show in the evening, and a morning parade with marchers representing many of the groups and activities.    The Parade had boaters (well, sort of).  I'm on the far side of this group from our Boat Club -- over there by Olive Oyl.  We threw lifesavers (the candy kind).

The Parade also had people (and pets) on bikes of several kinds ....

  

...exercisers, cloggers, and drinkers (not right at the time -- they were representing the Grape Stompers, the group that hosts monthly wine-tasting parties).. ..

 

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There were golfers and line dancers -- and another Olive Oyl and Popeye.  (In their real identity, this couple has been married over 60 years --  longer than the youngest of our "seniors" have been alive):

 

Our friend and neighbor Don is the can man.  He voluntarily collects and recycles all the aluminum from the Park and then throws everybody a free party with the proceeds.

He works hard and naturally was very popular as he rode the Parade route.

The paraders represented just a fraction of what's available to park residents during the season.  Most of the activities are hosted by volunteers. 

It's a busy place here in the winter with different things for different kinds of people, but all of us are happy to have spent the winter months in Florida sunshine.  (And a lot of people who are from the Northeastern states are not too happy about going back to the frozen North right now.)

 

  

WORKING ON THE RIVER

FOR RUBY TUESDAY - more from our boat trip across the state. And to see more red pictures click and visit the links on Mary's great site.

 

It's not all fun and games out there on the rivers.  Besides the bridge tenders and lockmasters and assorted people fishing and crabbing (OK, well, that IS fun), we also passed this boat, very slowly hauling an enormous load of pipes.  The boat is called "Miss Susan" which seems too delicate a name for this workhorse of a boat.

This picture is our two friends passing this hard worker (just to show how large it is).  That's the railing of our boat in the lower corner.   We wondered whether that boat would be going through the locks and were glad we didn't have to share space with it there.      

This is the Leitner, another workboat of a different kind.  It was tied up at one of the locks.  This one belongs to the Army Corps of Engineers. 

Here in Florida, as elsewhere, the Corps is a controversial entity.  They are the ones responsible for how much water is let into or out of the rivers through the locks and no matter what they do it isn't right for someone.  Of course they were also the force that built up Lake Okechobee in the first place, making it the second largest man-made Lake in the US.   The Lake controls flooding but it's creation drained a good part of the Everglades in the process.   Their Corps was created to build -- that was its mission and it didn't used to matter if nature was destroyed in the process. Now there are some restoration activities going on, but the Lake will remain and we enjoyed our boat trip on it.  So, I guess like most Floridians and people everywhere, we have mixed feelings.    

 

BIRDS ALONG LAKE OKECHOBEE

Posted to World Bird Wednesday -- click on those links for your weekly world-wide birding expeditions.

 
 

Little Blue Heron and Great Blue Heron seem to be studiously ignoring each other.

Some more drive-by birding (well, boat-by) from our gulf to ocean boat trip last week.

 

WE'RE BACK!

Just got back from a 5 day, 250-mile boat trip and here are a few postcards we forgot to send.

 

These are morning shots from Loggerhead Marina at Stewart, where we stayed two nights.  Stewart is on the Atlantic Coast side of Florida, so we boated from Gulf to Ocean -- along the edge of huge Lake Okechobee.  It was a fine adventure.

We took the laptop with us, but it wasn't working very well.  If that had happened when we were in the RV, it would have felt as if I were missing my right arm -- but in the boat, I just didn't really care.  Being out in the fresh air all day, combined with the gentle rocking motion of the boat when we turned in for the evening after dinner  -- and beach brain prevailed.

 A wonderful trip -- but It's good to be back.

 

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH?

Lesley, whose main blog is called 'Southern Ontario Discovered', hosts 'SIGNS SIGNS' every Thursday.  Join in if you have sign pictures in your files  -- or just go look at the links.  It's another way to picture the world. 

     This guy is supposed to represent Ponce de Leon, who searched for the Fountain of Youth and found Florida instead.  We saw this in St Augustine at some kind of tourist trap that we just drove by.  

We too have searched for the Fountain of Youth. 

In fact, in addition to staying in St Augustine, we've stayed right at the Fountain of Youth in California.

 

Neither of these places made us any younger, but we had a great time at both!

 Here is a link to our early post about the other Fountain of Youth.  It's close to Salvation Mountain, which we've posted about a couple of times.

 

BLUE SKIES and REFLECTION -- FLORIDA IN FEBRUARY

SHARED WITH THE BLOGGING COMMUNITIES AT SKYWATCH FRIDAY and WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.  Click on the links to see what other people have seen when they looked up -- or down!  

It's not always dramatic sunsets in Florida.  Sometimes, the sky is blue!

 
Franklin Locks Park

 

From the end of the canal at Upriver Resort and from the boat on the Caloosahatchie -- even further up the river. 

GONE TO THE BEACH

This post is linked to SKYWATCH FRIDAY.

 We've been away for a few days --on a water-trip (as opposed to a road-trip).  We docked the boat at Tween Waters, a Marina Resort at the end of Captiva Island.  It was a three-hour boat trip from our dock.

 

This fellow-guest at the resort enjoyed his perch on the front of our boat.

We didn't get out on an overnight at all last season and this was the first for this year.  It was a relatively uneventful cruise.   (A couple of years ago, right after we bought our used boat, we had some watery adventures we hadn't counted on.  Uneventful is a beautiful word!)  Click on the blue to read about one of our more adventurous trips.

The picture above shows the other boats on our small "flotilla."  The trip was arranged by the Fort Myers Power Squadron.   A few other couples joined the group by driving to the resort. 

It was a little too windy to swim, but skies were blue, the beach was full of beautiful shells and the company was the greatest. 

 Life is good!

 

REFLECTING AT THE SLOUGH

FOR WEEKEND REFLECTIONS hosted by James at his blog Newton Daily Photo.

 

Scenes from Six Mile Cypress Slough on a beautiful Florida February Day.  (Apologies to shivering family in Oregon Colorado and even Texas and friends "Up North.")

 I spied this little heron, but there weren't many birds; it may have  actually been too hot!  

But the Slough is always a great place to reflect -- literally and figuratively. 

And a stroll on the boardwalk is never a waste of time.

 

THE END OF ANOTHER DAY

THIS POST IS LINKED TO SKYWATCH FRIDAY.   There's a beautiful video over there this week -- as well as links to skies from everywhere.

 
 
This is a more typical sunset here at Upriver RV Park.  Not as spectacular as the one I posted last week, but soft and beautiful in its own way.

THE MAGIC OF WATER

 
 
 This post is linked to WATERY WEDNESDAY, hosted by 2-Sweet --  and SIGNS SIGNS by Lesley.

Pictures from Six-Mile Cypress Slough, Ft Myers. 

ORANGE COUNTRY

LINKED TO MELLOW YELLOW MONDAY (Orange is a sort of yellow, don't you think?)

 

It's orange-growing season around here.  Most Florida oranges are grown for juice, although it is possible to get some good eating ones.  The groves are fun to see as you drive out in the country.

Trucks of oranges going from farm to juice plants are common sights along our roads. 

 (The truck is a Google Image.  We took the other orange pictures while  on a Sunday drive out into the surrounding countryside.)

WHERE WE ARE NOW

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE LATEST POSTS.  OR CLICK ON THE 'SEARCH' BUTTON OR ANY CATEGORY IN THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN.

 

 The Florida "Canal Cottage" at Upriver RV Resort in Fort Myers -- where we are now.

(This is a "sticky post."  Scroll down to read new posts!)

SHADOWY FLASHBACK

Thank you to Tracy at Hey Harriet for hosting Shadow Shot Sunday every week!  A lovely sharing site with links that are always fun to look at  even though I don't always have shadows to post.

And once again, this week there aren't any shadows in our life.  Of course that means not much sunshine either!  So this is a Flashback to the sun and shadows of just last month  -- another season, another state. 

Hard to tell which of these wrought iron gates is real and which is shadow.  Just a sidewalk shot in St Augustine -- early in October. 

 

SUNSET, SUNRISE

THIS POST IS LINKED TO SKYWATCH FRIDAY.  CLICK ON THE LINKS! 

SUNSET -- LAST SUNDAY NIGHT, UPRIVER RV RESORT, FORT MYERS FLORIDA

 

 

 

 

 

SUNRISE -- THE NEXT MORNING, FERN RIDGE LAKE, VENETA OREGON 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It took us a little longer last time we made this trip.  Notice the jet trails in the sky over the Lake.  

VILLA ZORAYDA

This post is linked to the Mellow Yellow Monday photo-sharing meme and I will link it to Mary's Ruby Tuesday and Window Views Wednesday.  This amazingly colorful house is not typical of St Augustine, but it was so intriguing I just had to post about it!

 The Villa Zorayda in St Augustine was built in 1883 by an eccentric Boston millionaire named Franklin Smith. 

He had it built as his private winter residence.

It was inspired by a 12th Century Moorish Alhambra Palace in Granada Spain.

Today it is privately owned and houses a museum that is open to the public.

The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

One of the features of the building is the windows.

Each one is a different shape and size.  There was a superstition that this would make it difficult for evil spirits to find their way into the house.   
 

  No way to prove or disprove the superstition, but for sure all the different shapes make the building interesting to look at from all its different angles.

BRIDGING THE WAY HOME

 
This post is linked to EveryDay Life Around the World.  I tried last week to link to Sunday Bridges, but it didn't work.  I'm going to try again -- even though we're back in Oregon now.

Back in Florida  -- not quite "Our" Florida yet, but definitely Florida.   (License plates in Florida say "My Florida" -- our little spot there is in Fort Myers.)

Jacksonvlle Florida -- the day after we left Charleston on our way back.  I'm not sure what this bridge is really called, but since all the signs going into Jacksonville shorten the city's name to "Jax", I'm calling it Jax Bridge. 

 

On the way back to Ft. Myers and our canal cottage, we decided to spend a couple of nights in St Augustine.  We've always wanted to see this City and since we figured we wouldn't be ready for another roadtrip for a while we took a little "long-cut" on the way home.  

Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorers, St Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European-established City and port in the continental US.  When we were kids, we learned that fact without the important  words"European-established"  -- we missed a lot in our Euro-centered early education.  But even now that we've seen more ancient cities in New Mexico and elsewhere, we were still eager to visit and we were happy we did. 

We stayed at Anastasia Island State Park.  The picture below is Lion's Bridge which crosses from downtown St Augustine to Anastasia Island, where the park is located.

 

 

ST AUGUSTINE SHADOWS

 
THIS POST IS LINKED TO SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.  Always beautiful pictures there -- click on the links.

We are back in Florida --  the land of sunshine and shadows.

 

Live oak trees in St Augustine created a lovely lacy pattern on this residential Avenue.  (I do wish they could have gotten rid of the signs -- just long enough to snap a picture.)

Live oaks are everywhere in Florida, so we knew we were close to home when we saw them here on the last day of our road trip.

FLORIDA FLASHBACK FOR SKYWATCH

It's a Friday Flashback -- but not too far back.  These pictures were taken just a couple of days before we left Ft. Myers.  More skies are on display at SKYWATCH FRIDAY. 

Late afternoon in the Canal Cottage -- we were packing up, scrubbing down kitchen cabinets, removing every trace of food (in an empty house any leftover crumb is a banquet invitation for those certain unlovely Florida insects), and generally working pretty hard to get ready to hit the road in a couple of days.  I went to the sink for a drink of water and saw this bird land on our dock.  (I thought it was some kind of  heron but on closer look I'm not sure.)

Anyway, I grabbed the camera and ran outside.  Got a couple of pictures and followed him as he flew along the docks clear to the end of the Canal -- snapping pictures the whole way. 

Then I happened to look up and notice how pretty the sky was.  So I snapped a few pictures -- like the one on the top of this post.

Then I got to visiting with one of the neighbors -- and when I looked up again, the sky looked like this:

By the time I went back indoors, I couldn't remember what I'd been doing when I went out.  It's a wonder we ever got away!

SIX-MILE SLOUGH REFLECTIONS

Go do some more reflecting over here at WEEKEND REFLECTIONS hosted by James. And check out Gemma's beautiful blog.  One of her memes is WEEKEND NATURE

If this photo looks like a painting -- it's because it is.  This is a detail from a mural in the Interpretive Center at Six Mile Cypress Slough here in Fort Myers. 

Here's the real thing with some of the same birds -- taken from one of the trails in the park:

Another piece of the beautiful mural:

Go visit Six Mile Cypress Slough in person if you can or here for more pictures and history of the area.